Condenser for refrigerators



Nov. 28, 1939. J. WINTERS CONDENSER FOR REFRIGERATORS Filed July 28, 1939 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHN wnvrses' INVENTOR J. WINTER$ CONDENSER FUR REFRIGERATORS Nov.- 28, 1939.

Filed July 28, 1959 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOHN wmrgks lNVENT OR ATTORNEY Nov. 28, 1939. J. WINTERS CONDENSER FOR REFRIGERATORS Filed Jill 28, 19:59 a Sheets-$heet s JOHN WINTERS INVENTOR .BY Q Q Q vQ ATTORNEY CQNDENSER FOR REFRIGERATORS Filed July 28, 1959' e Sheets-Sheet 4 JOHN WINTERS INVENTOR .zz 1 I 32' ATTORNEY v Nov. 28, 1939. J. WINTERS 2,181,354 CONDENSER FOR REFRIG ERATORS 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 28, 1959 6 7 JOHN WINTERS .lNVENTOR ATTORNEY T 1939? J. WINTERS I 2,181,354

CONDENSER FOR REFRIGERATORS Filed July 28, 19:59 s Sheets-Sheet e JOHN WIN rms INVENTOR W ZeQLA-W ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 28, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE com asses son anrmoam'rons John Winters, New York. N. r.

Application July as, 1939, Serial No. 280,951

8 Claim.

ent, Serial Number 230,628, filed September 19,

1938, for Cooling means for refrigerator con- 10 densers, and Serial Number 230,629, filed September 19, 1938, for Condensers for refrigerators, both of which applications have been abandoned. The main object of the invention resides in the provision of anair-cooled condenser of the above 16 nature which embodies water-cooling means, the latter being put into operation when air-cooling alone is inadequate for refrigeration during the summer months or when the condenser is located in an environment of high temperature.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of an air-cooled condenser having means-for augmenting cooling by air and being capable of being connected in series with a conventional air-cooled condenser.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of an air-cooled refrigerant condenser embodying water cooling means and which is simple to manufacture, emcient and economical in operation, and easily accessible for purposes B of repair.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear in the progress of the disclosure and as pointed out in the appended claims.

Accompanying this specification are drawings showing preferred forms of the invention wherein corresponding reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

m Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of a condenser unit including the specially constructed air-cooled condenser coil which is the subject matter of the invention herein.

Figure 2 is an end view in elevation of Fig through the outer Jacket and water passing through the innertube.

Figure! is a view similar to Figure except that the condenser has the refrigerant passing through the outer jacket and water passing 5 through the inner tube.

Figure 8 is a side view in elevation of a series arrangement of an air-cooled condenser coil embodying water cooling means, a conventional aircooled condenser coil and a typical condenser unit to which the said coils are secured.

Figure 9 is an end view in elevation of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view in elevation foreshortene'd showing sections of the two condenser coils.

Figure 11 is a. sectional view of Figure 10 along the plane ll-l| thereof.

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view of a refrig- 4 erat ion system of the compressor type showing the series arrangement of an air-cooled condenser coil embodying water cooling means and a conventional air-cooled condenser coil.

Figure 13 is an end view in elevation of a series arrangement of an air-cooled condenser coil embodying water cooling means and a conventional air-cooled condenser coil in conjunction with the typical condenser unit and is a modification of Figure 9 insofar as the outer jacket of the first mentioned coil has a refrigerant flowing therethrough instead of water.

Figure 14 is a diametrical View of a refrigeration system similar to the construction shown in Figure 12 except that the outer jacket of the aircooled condenser. embodying the water cooling means has a refrigerant flowing therethrough instead of water.

It is well known that during the summer months, refrigeration is in greatest demand and that most trouble is encountered at this time of 0 the year with those systems operating on aircooled condensers. Althoughthe condenser unit of the system is stored at the coolest spot available, nevertheless the air surrounding the condenser may be so warm as to result in inadequate 5 cooling, thereby necessitating a greater load on the compressor in order to liquefy the refrigerant. Development of high pressure in a refrigeration system leads to greater cost of operation, danger of leakage of the refrigerant and increased wear 0 and tear on the compressor and movable elements of the system.

To overcome such inadequacy of air-cooled condensers. especially for the summer period, the applicant has provided an -air-cooled condenser which embodies means for augmentation of cooling by water.

This new type of air-cooled condenser is adapted to form part ofa typical commercial condensing unit for a compression refrigerating machine. Thus, in Figures 1 and 2, numeral 10 generally designates a conventional compressor having a flywheel 10', while numeral ll indicates a fan secured to a motor II, the said fan playing against the air-cooled condenser generally indicated by numeral 12. A typical refrigerant receiver I3 is also provided with the condensing unit as is a stand I to support all of the above mentioned parts. A belt I! is adapted to connect themotor to flywheel 19' of compressor 10.

The diagrammatic view shown in Figure 5 represents the most desirable hook-up of a-refrigeration system of the compressor type utilizing the new type of air cooled condenser. Numeral 16 represents a discharge line from compressor III, the said line communicating with an inner pipe 11 of condenserl2, the said inner pipe 11 having an outer jacket 18 spaced therefrom by an annular spacing 19. The discharge line l8 passes through one end of the inner pipe l1 of condenser 12 and empties from the opposite end of the inner pipe 11 into receiver 13. From receiver I3 the refrigerant (in liquid condition) flows along line 20, the latter having a conventional drier 2i and a strainer 22 therealong. Line 20 terminates in an expansion valve and cooling or evaporating coil, the last mentioned valve and cooling coil not being shown in the drawings. The suction line of the system is indicated by numeral 23, the latter proceeding from the outlet end of the cooling coil. A- conventional electric pressure control switch diagrammatically indicated by numeral 24 with a 'high pressure safety device and having a high pressure control line 25 and a low pressure control line 26 is connected across the two sides of compressor l0. An electric line 24' from the control switch 24 is adapted to limit excessive amount of compression. The high pressure control line 25 has a branch line 25 which is connected toa conventional high pressure water control valve diagrammatically represented by numeral 21, the latter cutting across the water line between the lower end of the condenser l2 and an inlet water valve 29. The corresponding outlet water valve 29 is at the upper end of condenser 12.

The high pressure water control valve 21 is of the diaphragm or bellows type which is acted upon by the condensing pressure. opens a varying amount depending upon the condensing pressure and thus controls the supply of water. This type of valve is economical especially where the price of water is high.

It is to be observed that water inlet valve 29 and outlet water valve 29 are each provided with air vents 28' and 29' and water vents 28" and 29", so that the water within the annular space 19 of the double tube condenser may be drained off in the winter months to prevent freezing therein. a

The system may be provided with a plurality of shut-off valves conveniently used for purposes of closing sections thereof, but as shown, two are indicated by numerals 30 and 9| secured to refrigerant receiver I3. I

The water inlet valve 28 and the outlet valve 29 are positioned on the condenser I2 so that there will be a counter-flow between the refrig-i erant passing along line l6, and into inner tube l1 downwardly and the cold water proceeding} This valve has from the inlet valve 28 on the bottom of condenser 12 and proceeding toward the top of the condenser. In this fashion it is possible to reduce the temperature of the condenser liquid or refrigerant to aproximately the same temperature as the inlet water.

The air-cooled condenser comprising inner tubing l1 and spaced tubing 18 contains a plurality of and bends 39, the bends projecting from openings 35 in the side walls of the condenser framework 32. The framework 32 is mounted on a support 33 which is connected to stand 14 by means of webbing 34.

The condenser coil shown in Figures 3 and 4 is made by folding straight tube 11 within spaced and straight tube l8, the tubes providing an annular space therebetween, so that water may run therethrough while a refrigerant proceeds through the inner tube. After the said tubes are coiled, preferably split fins 91 are inserted along the outer tube between the bends 38.

Where the air is sufliciently cool so that a medium pressure is required to liquefy the refrigerant, the water valve 28 is rendered inefiective by means of the pressure controlled valve 21 thereby retaining the nature of condenser 12 as solely an air-cooled one.

One advantage of passing the refrigerant through the inner tube i1 of the double tube condenser l2 resides in the fact that should the water in annular space l9 freeze, the resulting damage would only afiect the outer tube I8 while the inner tube 11 containing the refrigerant would not be damaged since the pressure resulting from the expansion of the water upon freezing would operate equally on all sides of inner tube l1.

However, the coupling between .the condenser I2 and a water inlet and outlet may be varied as shown in Figures 6 and 7 so that the refrigerant passes through the outer jacket ll! of the condenser 12 and water flows through the inner tube H. In this fashion, the refrigerant is air-cooled on the exterior and water cooled on the interior. Thus, the discharge line 19 containing the refrigerant passes through the upper end of the jacket l8 of condenser 12 by means-of a coupling 38, the inner tube 11 containing water penetrating the coupling as at H and terminating in the outlet water valve 29. The refrigerantempties at the opposite end of the condenser through jacket l8 into receiver ll through coupling 30, the inner pipe 11 being in communication with high prssure water control valve 21. From the standpoint of emciency, the syst where the refrigerant passes through the outer jacket of the condenser is superior to the system where the refrigerant passes through the inner tube.

The air-cooled condenser embodying water cooling means to be used when necessary as above described and shown in Figures 1-7 inclusive may be adapted to operate as a booster coil in a series arrangement with a conventional aircooled coil; the latter being characterized as a pre-cooling coil. An arrangement of coils of the above nature is shown in Figures 8-14 inclusive, this arrangement being adapted to be used all year round whereby inadequate aircooling and the ills consequent thereto are overcome. In such an arrangement of coils, the booster coil may adjust itself as an auxiliary air-cooled condenser when the surrounding air is at an adequately low temperature to render s,1s1,ss4

upon by the condensing pressure. This valveliquefaction of the refrigerant at a low pressure. In the winter months, it is possible to convert both coils into a series of air-cooled condensers either manually or automatically as will hereinafter appear.

As in the case of the air-cooled coil embodying' water cooling means, the series arrangement of booster and pre-cooling coils form part of a typical commercial condensing unit for a compression refrigerating machine. Thus in Figures 8 and 9 numeral Illa generally designates a conventional compressor having a flywheel IIla while numeral IIa indicates a motor with a fan IIa attached thereto, the said fan playing against the fins of both a conventional air-cooled or precooling condenser generally indicated by numeral I24: and against the fins of an air-cooled condenser embodying means of water cooling or booster condenser generally designated by nu,- meral I2'a, the said two condensers being disposed in parallelism one behind the other. A typical refrigerant receiver I3a is also provided with the condensing unit as is a stand Ila to support all of the above mentioned parts. A belt I5a is adapted to connect the motor to flywheel Ill'a of compressor Ilia.

The diagrammatic view shown in Figure 12 represents the most desirable hook-up of a refrigeration system of the compressor type utilizing the series arrangement of a pre-cooling and a double tube booster condenser. In Figure 12, numeral Ilia represents a discharge line from compressor Ida, the said line communicating with coiled tubing IIa of pre-cooling condenser I2'a into the upper end of which line I6a carrying the refrigerant communicates. The refrigerant passes out of tubing Ila at the bottom of condens'er I2a by a line I8a which extends to the inner tube Isa of the coiled double tube booster condenser IZ'a, the spaced outer tube of said condenser being represented by numeral 2ila. Between inner tube I9a and outer tube 20a, is an annular space M0. to accommodate a water flow. The refrigerant flows from the outer end of inner tube Illa into receiver IM and then proceeds from the receiver (in liquid condition) along line 22a, the latter having a conventional drier 23a and strainer 24a therealong. Line 22a terminates in an expansion valve and cooling or evaporating coil, the valve and coil not being shown on the drawings. The suction line of the system is indicated by numeral 25a, the latter proceeding from the outlet end of the cooling coil. A conventional electric pressure control switch diagrammatically indicated by numeral 26a. with a high pressure safety device and having a high pressure control, line 21a and a low pressure con- 30a near the lower end of double'tube condenser I2a directly before the point where line 300 communicates with outer tube 200. An outlet water valve 33a is at the upper end of the double tube condenser I2'a.

The high pressure water control valve 28a is of the diaphragm or bellows type, which is acted opens a varying amount, depending upon the condensing pressure in line 21a and thus controls the supply of water coming from inlet valve S'Ia. This type of valve is economical, especially where the price of water is high.

It is to be observed that water shut-off valve 32a and outlet water valve 3341 are each provided with air vents fl'a and 31's respectively and water vents "11 and 33"a respectively, so that the water within the annular space 2Ia of the double tube condenser We may be drained off either in the winter months to prevent freezing thereinor in the summer months when the refrigerant is adequately cooled by air.

The system may be provided with a plurality of shut-oil valves conventionally used for purposes of closing sections thereof, but .as shown, two are indicated by numerals "a and 35a secured at opposite ends of refrigerant receiver "a.

The water shut-ofi valve 32a is manually controlled. When opened, the amount of flow therethrough is controlled by the high pressure controlled water valve 29a, while the flow itself may be stopped by closing the water outlet valve 33a. Shut-oft valve 12a is positioned on the lower end of the double tube condenser I2'a so that there will be a counter flow between the refrigerant passing along line I80.- andinto inner tube Isa downwardly and the cooled water proceeding from valve 32a on the bottom of condenser I2'a and proceeding toward the top thereof. In this fashion, it is possible to reduce the temperature of the condenser liquid or refrigerant to approximately the same temperature as the inlet water.

Pre-cooling condenser lid is provided with coiled tubing IIa wherein the end bends 38a project from openings 31a in the side walls of a condenser framework 380. The double tube condenser I2'a having coiled inner tube I9a and coiled outer tube 20a similarly has a plurality of end bends fla projectlng from openings 40a. in the side walls of a condenser framework a. Frameworks 38a and a are fixed in parallel relationship and behind each other by means of webbing 42a which is connected to stand Ila. By this arrangement, single fan IIa is able to play against both condensers through fins' 43a. of condenser I2'a and fins a. of condenser In. Heat conducting fins mare distributed along the outer tube 2Ilaof condenser vlz'a, while fins a are distributed along tubing Ila of condenser I2a.

The double tubes of condenser I 2'a shown in Figures 10 and 11 are preferably made by folding straight tube Iflawithinspaced and straight tube 2011, the tubes providing an annular space 2Ia therebetween, so that water may run there'- through to cool a refrigerant proceeding through the inner tube. Fins a are placed on tube 20a after the latter has been coiled.

Where the air is sumciently cool so that a medium pressure is required tollquefy the refrigerant, the flow of water from the inlet water valve 3Ia is stopped by means of the pressure controlled valve 29a, thereby rendering itunnecessary to close shut-ofl valve 32a manually. When this occurs, booster condenser IZ'a operates as a purely air-cooled condenser in conjunction with the pre-cooling air-cooled condenser I20 and thereby brings about more cooling than a single conventional air-cooled condenser.

" The advantage of passing the refrigerant through inner tube Isa of the double tube condenser i2'a resides in the fact that should the water in annular space 2la freeze, the resulting damage would affect the outer tube 20a, while the inner tube I90. containing the refrigerant would not be damaged since the pressure resulting from the expansion of the water upon freezing would operate equally on all sides of inner tube iSa.

Figures 13 and 14 show the same series arrangement ofthe two condensers shown in Figures 9 and 12 except that the booster condenser i2'a has a refrigerant flowing through the outer jacket 20a instead of the inner tube l9a. For such purpose, the ends of the condenser i2'a are connected to two couplings, an upper coupling Ma and a lower coupling a. Coupling '11 connects the refrigerant line I8a to the upper end of jacket 20a, the inner tube [9a passing through the coupling Ma as at l9'a and terminating in the outlet water valve 33a. The refrigerant empties at the opposite end of the condenser l2'a from jacket 20a into receiver I3a through the lower coupling 45a, the inner tube Isa containing water being in communication with the high pressure water control valve 29a.

From the standpoint of efliciency this system of cooling is superior to that system wherein the refrigerant proceeds through the inner tube and the water through the outer jacket.

The air-cooled condensers embodying water cooling means as well as the single tube condenser herein described may be made from any metalwhich is resistant to the action of the refrigerant.

I wish it understood that minor changes and variations in the shape, connection, arrangement, location, material and integration of parts, may all be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A refrigeration system including a compressor and a condenser coil including air cooling means normally adapted to condense sufficient refrigerant for a fixed capacity of said compressor, auxiliary cooling means other than air cooling to augment condensation of the refrigerant to compensate for variations'in load, said auxiliary cooling means being embodied in said coil and being operable during periods when air cooling is inadequate. for refrigeration.

2. A refrigeration system including a compressor and a condenser coil including air cooling means normally adapted to condense sufilcient refrigerant for a fixed capacity of said compressor, auxiliary cooling means other than air cooling to augment condensation of the refrigerant to compensate for variations in load, said auxilinner coil, a water inlet valve and a water outlet valve attached to the ends of one of said coils.

3. A refrigeration system including a compressor and a condenser coil including air cooling means normally adapted to condense sumcient refrigerant for a fixed capacity of said compressor, auxiliary cooling means to augment condensation of the refrigerant to compensate for variations in load. said auxiliary cooling means including an inner coil providing a conduit for water and being operable during periods when air cooling is inadequate for refrigeration, the refrigerant passing betwen the inner and condenser coils.

4. A refrigeration system including a compressor and a condenser coil including air cooling means normally adapted to condense sufficient refrigerant for a fixed capacity of said compressor, auxiliary cooling means to augment condensation of the refrigerant to compensate for variations in load, said auxiliary cooling means including an inner coil providing aconduit for the refrigerant, the outer coil serving as a conduit for water and being operable during periods when air cooling is inadequate for refrigeration.

5. A refrigeration system as set forth in claim 3 wherein the inner coil is provided with a water inlet and a water outlet valve at the ends thereof.

6. A refrigeration system as set forth in claim 4 wherein the outer coil is provided with a water inlet and a water outlet valve at the ends thereof.

'7. A refrigeration system including a compressor and a condenser coil including air cooling means normally adapted to condense sufficient refrigerant for a fixed capacity of said compressor, auxiliary cooling means other than air cooling to augment condensation of the refrigerant to compensate for variations in load, said auxiliary cooling means being embodied in said coil and being operable during periods when air cooling is inadequate for refrigeration, another condenser coil having air cooling means and being connected to the first mentioned condenser-coil to precool the refrigerant before passing into JOHN wm'rsns. 

